Will Wetline

A great start, A-Jay!

It was a beautiful day to be on the water: sunny and just the right amount of wind. However, as much as this fisherman liked the conditions, the smallies didn't. I went to a presentation that's worked in the past, a simple, 1/8 oz. bucktail jig fished slowly and deep off a rock pile. This 4.37 lb. smallmouth made the mistake of taking it for lunch!

Ah, it's good to be back on Quabbin Reservoir in central Massachusetts. Here's my #1 for the season, a healthy smallie which took a 5/8 oz. blade bait made from barlowstackle.com components. This is the third season I've been using a single 1/0 Siwash and the first time I gussied up the body with prism tape. This is my 5th annual early season trip with Bassmaster Brad, a versatile and exceptionally good bass fisherman. His first fish of the day was this 4 1/4 lber. which hit a gold blade bait: We were fishing a flat at 10' - 20+' depths. Much of it was covered in slime or sandgrass but there were areas clean enough to work a hair jig through without fouling. I spent the hard water months in my tackle room molding, painting and tying jigs and I was ready to see if the smallmouth approved of the pewter football that came out of the 1/4 oz. mold cavity, got a coat of TJ's Crinkle Copper and then got dressed with brown bucktail and orange neck hackle. While dragging slowly through the clear, 49º water I felt a "tick" telegraph up the 8 lb. fluoro . . . Brad and I were happy with these fish, of course, but there really wasn't a lot of action. We then checked an area that more often than not is productive for me, but not this trip. Brad had a spot in mind and positioned the boat not far off a steep breaking point with a rock garden underneath. Brad cast out from the boat and I thought I'd see if a bass might snag the hair jig before the rocks did casting toward the point. Brad hooked up with the gold blade and a few seconds later a smallie inhaled my jig. This 4 1/4 lber. ate what looks like a short length of orange string. Here's a pic of it dried out and ready to go again: To sum up, we didn't find a lot of active fish, but a few good ones: 4 smallies and 2 lake trout for Brad; three smallies for me. Cloud cover and a heavy ripple in the morning changed to mostly sunny with not enough of a breeze in the afternoon - Quabbin is real tough when the surface is flat. I'll be out again tomorrow and will report with another true tale from the Big Q. Tight lines, all! WW

1/8 oz. hair and hackle 1/4 oz.

I had used PhotoBucket for a number of years and was annoyed by a variety of problems. When they announced $399.99 for a fairly basic plan not too long ago, I did a search and decided on a basic plan from https://www.smugmug.com/ I have been nothing but pleased.

Here's a look at a display I put together for a local fishing and hunting show: This event has the feel of a flea market and my intention is to get a fair, non-negotiable price for work I spend considerable time on. I want the product to stand out from other venders "stuff dumped in tubs," so I decided to go high end with descriptive signs in holders and a photo board so I can point to a pic and explain a process. The photos also serve to quiet young bucks who smirk and say, "Do these things work?" I just point to a 4 lb. smallmouth and smile. By the way, the tablecloth is linen. Like many others, I like the looks of the casting that comes out of Do-it's Poison tail mold. I also tie bucktail and bear on an 1/8 oz. ball jig. Working one of these along the bottom slowly with a twitch and a pause for chilled out smallies puts you in a state of high alert. If you've got the patience for this oh-so-subtle presentation you may be well rewarded. New for the 2019 F & H show is this Crestliner2008-inspired blade bait mod. Start with Barlow's 5/8 oz. vibrating blade bait body, get out your Dremel and, wearing a full face shield, cut off the front hook hanger with an abrasive disc that will shatter if you flex it. Eagle Claw's 1/0 Siwash will show even a bruiser bass who's boss. You see above a couple of 1/4 oz. football heads, one tied with bucktail, the other with bear. It's not late breaking news to come up with this offering. What is, however, are their PVA trailers. I've bid a fond farewell to Uncle Josh and am now cutting Polyvinyl Alcohol into a shape that I think will say,"Food!" to fish. Gotta get back to the bench now to continue preparations for tomorrow's show. We'll discuss the potential of PVA later in the month.

SCWatrboyo1, You say your baits would cost only 35 or 40 cents each? I'm real curious how you came up with that figure. Are they bucktail jigs with hair from the deer you harvest? Is it your own labor or have you found an overseas source of jig tiers? I ask not because I want to rain on your parade, but because I want to save you emotional pain and financial stress. I have no idea what overseas production costs, but being a designer and maker of my own bucktail jigs, I do know that I'm not even making minimum wage for a finished product when I calculate all (materials, packaging, promotion and especially labor) costs. And then you've got taxes to be paid . . . Hey, I do wish you the best, but do think this venture through thoroughly.

Those are mushroom shaped jig heads, commonly used for Ned rigging. I mold my own from the Midwest Finesse jig mold and use 88% bismuth/12% tin since Massachusetts does not permit lead under 1 oz. Siebert Outdoors offers them with the same, excellent Owner 5313 hooks. I would go with them if Maine has gone lead free and Mr. Siebert will make you a batch using the above mentioned alloy. Don't hesitate to PM me if you have more questions. One more thing - I use 3/32 oz. on 6 lb. line 95% of the time.

I'm a light line, clear water smallie guy whose favorite baits have changed over the years. I've done a lot of business with GYCB 5" Hula Grubs, Gitzit 3 1/2" tubes, wacky rigged 4' and 5" Senkos and the original Duo Realis Spin Bait 80. I'd feel confident with any one of these on my line. About three years ago after reading all the accounts of the Ned rig, I thought it would be great on my home water - and it is now my #1 go-to presentation.

Yes. The pewter works fine. I still spray the the mold with Drop Out for easier removal of the casting although this is not as critical as it is with a bismuth alloy. I first tried a one pound ingot in Lee's Production Pot IV. I got a slow drip when I lifted the arm and I think there simply wasn't enough weight in the pot as well as the orifice being designed for casting lead. Not wanting to drain the pot every time I want to cast bismuth/tin, I bought Lee's 4 lb. melting pot and small ladle https://www.barlowstackle.com/Lee-4-Lb-Lead-Melting-Pot-220-Volt-Model-P3271.aspx which is what I use now for pewter casting. It takes a bit of practice to ladle pour neatly but is not really a problem. What else? I've been curing powder paint @ 325º for an hour on both pewter and rotometals lead-free bullet casting alloy. https://www.rotometals.com/lead-free-bullet-casting-alloy-88-bismuth-12-tin/ One last observation from last year's casting: When removing the finished casting from the mold, grip it with linemans pliers right in the middle - not by the sprue or the hook - and pull it straight up. Both the pewter and 88% bismuth/12% tin alloys are hard enough to do this without marring your finished product.

Great design!

Credit goes to Crestliner 2008 for recommending a 1/0 Siwash during a general smallmouth b.s. session at my tackle room three years ago during the hard water season. I had been using the same "blank" - https://www.barlowstackle.com/Vibrating-Blade-Lure-P2631.aspx - and tried double hooks then a single treble in the rear. Two years ago I tried the 1/0 Siwash, a substantial hook, and that settles it for me . . . and the plump smallie in the pic below. Bassman, I don't notice any difference in lure action with any of the hook setups I've used. I pull, not rip, the bait about 18" off the bottom, just enough so you can feel the vibe, then drop it and rest it for 1 - 2 seconds. The smallies almost always pick this bait up during the pause and when you start another pull you're setting the hook. My preferred set up is a 6 1/2' medium casting rod and 10 lb. Silver Thread AN-40 copolymer. This gives me plenty of power for a battle with a big smallie and no line tangles.

My tackle box is a portable file carrier from Staples which holds 6 Plano 3700s. To its right is a utility carrier which stores the tools you see on the middle seat of the 14' rental boat I fish from as well as small Plano boxes of hooks, weights and etc. The dry bag in the stern holds 3 Plano 3600s. extra clothes and, of course, a thermos of coffee.

All the steelheaders in my group dead drift flies, mainly egg patterns but occasionally nymphs, buggers and Zonkers. I am the only one not technically fly fishing, i.e. I'm spinning with a TFO 9' 6" rod with power in the butt yet able to get adequate distance with a #5 lead shot. I much prefer it to the 10' 6" noodle rod I fished in earlier years. A Stradic 4000 with 8 lb. running line and the same test leader complete my outfit I am aware of how effective pinning is but I generally get enough action with my setup to keep me amused. Thanks for mentioning this other presentation. BTW, I think egg sacs are permitted in the DSR.

I can't be absolutely sure. However, there are far more steelhead than rainbows in the river in their season and the steelhead are faster and crazier when on the line.

Here's a view looking out the back at Mud Creek Lodge, one of six properties owned by the Douglaston Salmon Run. It's a short drive from there to a DSR parking area and river access. It was great fishing weather during our time at the river, October 22 - 26: mostly cloudy, a few hours of sun, a few of rain. Calm conditions to moderately breezy. Air temps ranged from just below freezing to the low 50ºs. Water temps were in the mid to high 40ºs. L - R: Aaron Muller, Aaron Holmes and Don Muller form a receiving line to greet steelhead coming in from Lake Ontario. They're dead drifting, (bottom bouncing or high sticking if you prefer these terms), egg pattern flies, size 10, 2X strong. If a fish blew the pool we'd cautiously chase it into the stretch you see in the photo. Understand that a steelhead of any size, say 5 lbs. and up, is gonna go wherever it feels like going. These fish are the fastest in freshwater and also the most unpredictable. A good example from this year's trip is the one that, immediately after the hookset, thrashed the surface and then went . . . where? Reeling quickly, I caught up with it as it headed upstream between me and the bank. It then zipped 360º around me and continued its upstream journey. Truly an astonishing maneuver which I followed awkwardly, negotiating the rocky bottom in cleated boots. Let's look at a few fish now: Cold-looking Don holds a steelhead recently arrived from the big lake. The chrome coloration changes to rainbow trout with time in the river. They're at their peak of power and speed now. This drops off as the river gets colder. On a December trip a few years back, a veteran steelheader referred to their behavior as "lethargic," which still breaks me up. Lethargic compared only to their chrome capabilities! A smiling Aaron Muller displays this chunky fish for a photo op. Aaron had a difficult week due to tackle problems but kept at it. Good thing for the steelhead he wasn't his usual dangerous self. Aaron Holmes, the first Aaron's fishing buddy since college days, came all the way from Seattle. Thoughts of steelhead took over his brain (as they do to all fishermen who've had one on) on his first trip in 2011. I'm waiting for a photo of Holmes' best-of-trip, a 15 lber. "Pleased to meet you!" said I. Don't mean to disparage the medium sized steelies I brought to net, but I couldn't beat a big one on this trip. There was one that weighed in the mid teens that taunted me by clearing the water - twice! - right in front of me then turned around, sped downstream, and broke me off. Aargh. Let's talk about other species that swim in the Salmon River. Don holds a fine specimen of a domestic rainbow, a close relative of the steelhead. However, the 'bow is a homebody - it lives its entire life in the river, never venturing out into Lake Ontario. Don's next fish was a brown of about 9 lbs. that was so lively it wouldn't keep still for a picture. Take my word, it was a beautiful, plump brown as they are in these parts. It was an unusual year for salmon. In the past we've seen a number of "zombies" - dark, decaying creatures at the end of their life cycle. Six or seven years ago I landed a "green" salmon over 20 lbs. which is a king that's colored up but not yet decaying. This year we got into quite a few "fresh" salmon. These fish were golden brown colored, spotted, and too big and powerful for our steelhead gear. We did have a better chance of stopping one of these monsters than a freight train but . . . To summarize: We hit it just right this year. River flow was 335 cfs which is what we prefer. The weather was great. And the crazed chromers kept us busy! The deposit has been made for next year's trip. Will Wetline

Nolan, I congratulate you on your savvy assessment of conditions, your upbeat attitude and your great effort. How about beside majoring in biology you study journalism as well - you write an excellent account of your experiences. I look forward to seeing you hoisting trophies in the future.

You can do it, Nolan!

You certainly did have a good day.

Sharkicane, I've been at your stage of the game with several different species, and y'know what? Hindsight from more than 50 years of waving a wand over the waters informs me that I'll catch more fish if I'm relaxed and in good humor rather than suffering with the delusion that I've gotta catch fish! For one thing, even after decades of fishing, the fish at times will not bite even after multiple perfect presentations, especially if they're not at the spot I'm casting to. I stop short of dropping depth charges and will often put the rod down and have a snack and a sip. I stop reeling to watch an eagle fly by. I watch clouds go by, for goodness sake. I tell myself to "be cool," I have no obligations at the moment and I'm far away from traffic jams. It would be helpful to adopt this mindset. I'm also going to suggest you stop beating yourself up with unrealistic expectations. I do hope you catch fish, of course, but keep in mind you've just started and there's a learning curve, dues to be paid. So! Get out there and experiment, analyze the results, and learn. Then go home and study Bass Resource pinned topics, read printed material, watch videos. And don't compare yourself to other fishermen. Be skeptical of advertisements for magic lures. To sum up: Slow down and value your free time in a relaxed manner.

Shore fishing may not be productive this time of year because the smallmouth in this big, clear body of water are in their summer pattern chasing baitfish around deep water structure. I generally rent a boat and travel to areas accessible from Gate 43 or Gate 31. I'm not familiar with Gate 8 but believe it has more deep water access from shore. Rig 6 lb. line on a ML rod and/or 8 on medium tackle. The Quabbin is a beautiful spot to spend the day because it's undeveloped and highly restricted. You might enjoy a trip to the Visitors Center. https://www.mass.gov/quabbin-reservoir-fishing-guide

Glaucus, this may or may not make you feel better. At the least it gives perspective:

Mr. Ruiz, your story has me disoriented in the most pleasant way . . . catching bass in the heart of a metropolis . . .

My post spawn smallies wouldn't respond to reaction baits shallow (10' - 15') this cool June morning, but a few were receptive deep (20'? 25'?) to bear on a ball. Bear hair on Do-it's 1/8 oz. round head jig mold with socket eyes. Trailer is a cut-in-half Leatherbaits Chunk.

That is a good photo of a huge bass!